The Cairo giants will host the Black Bulls at Cairo’s International Stadium in the fifth round of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

Fatouh, 26, picked up a muscular injury in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Abu Qir Fertilizers in the Egypt Cup. Meanwhile, Bentayg, 25, missed that same game due to a shoulder injury.

“Fatouh and Bentayg are doubtful for Black Bulls game. We still have 24 hours to go and one of them could be available. Our defender Omar Gaber could be the best replacement especially as he played before at the same position,” the Swiss coach Gross said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Gross, 69, returned for a second stint as Zamalek coach in mid-December and confessed that his team’s performance needs some improvement in the coming period.

“We suffer sometimes at the attacking level and there are some small details that result in this issue. We are working hard on performing better attacking football in the future,” the coach explained.

“The door is open to all players and every one must do his best to get the chance to play,” he added.

A win on Sunday will help holders Zamalek secure a berth in the competition’s quarter-finals. They are currently in the driving seat of Group D with eight points, three points ahead of second-placed Masry. Black Bulls come in third place with four points.

Gross finally said that fans’ attendance will play a key factor in Sunday’s match, emphasizing the importance of the Confederation Cup,

“Our target is to win the tournament and keep the title,” he concluded. 

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